Hydrogen Network 14th September

“Standing room only“ was how Guest chair Chris McClane, Centrica Storage described the HICP Hydrogen Network, hosted at CATCH on the 14th of September. With over 90 people attending online and 30 in person, Chris highlighted how this demonstrates the huge interest in the full Hydrogen Value chain and the energy transition in the region.

“Standing room only“ was how Guest chair Chris McClane, Centrica Storage described the HICP Hydrogen Network, hosted at CATCH on the 14th of September. With over 90 people attending online and 30 in person, Chris highlighted how this demonstrates the huge interest in the full Hydrogen Value chain and the energy transition in the region.

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Chris welcomed Guy Philips, Senior Business Development Manager from Uniper, who gave an excellent presentation detailing Uniper history, strategy, and projects.  Guy told the audience that Uniper has been driving the Hydrogen Future since 2013, whilst highlighting the future strategy. In particular that they remain technology neutral, incorporating both blue and green hydrogen into their plans, covering the full value chain.  Guy then focussed on Unipers Energy projects such as the Killingholme Hydrogen Hub, Connahs Quay in North Wales and Flotta in Scotland.  The Hydrogen Hub hopes to be operational by 2027 – linking in with Zero Carbon Humber and the East Coast Cluster.  Guy then touched on project Mayflower, which was a study to discover green hydrogens role to decarbonise port activities in Immingham.

Next Katie Hedges, Director of Low Carbon Strategy and  Membership at CATCH, gave an update on the Humber Industrial Cluster Plan work packages, explaining that HICP team is receiving training to operate the systems model, which will generate core scenarios to deliver net zero by 2040.  Plus highlighted that our Skills and Supply Chain studies are of particular interest to CATCH and we are more than happy to hear from companies wishing to get involved.  

After a short comfort break, Andrew Train, Project Director for Energy Transition at Centrica Storage, delivered a very informative presentation, explaining the history of Rough starting in 1975 through to the current day.  Andrew discussed how Centrica acquired Rough for storage in 2002 and 2017 saw production re start for cushion gas. Today plans are in place to reinstate Rough as storage to help deliver price security and energy independence in a very difficult market.  Next, Andrew explored Centrica Storages plans to store Hydrogen, using C02 or Methane as cushion gas, with C02 offering cost advantages. Andrew then took the audience through the Hydrogen Storage Development timeline.

Both presentations generated many questions from the floor and online.  David Talbot, CEO of CATCH, gave a short update from the Humber Energy Board and again highlighted the importance of skills and resources on the journey to net zero.

Chris closed the meeting, thanking the speakers and the audience for their participation.

Two polls were shared during the meeting, the results of which will be shared on our LinkedIn channel in the coming days.

The dates of the next meetings are 17th November – Decarbonisation Network and the 30th November the Hydrogen Network

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